India-Pakistan matches critically important for world cricket, feels Dave Richardson

International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Officer Dave Richardson on Saturday said that it is upto Pakistan to regain the confidence of the cricketeing nations to tour their nation and the game’s governing body could do little about it.

International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Officer Dave Richardson on Saturday said that it is upto Pakistan to regain the confidence of the cricketeing nations to tour their nation and the game’s governing body could do little about it.

“Security is not something that is taken lightly by anybody and making a decision as to whether it’s safe or not involves a serious assessment of the risk … and it’s up to the member countries to decide,” Richardson was quoted as saying by the Associated Press report published on Deccan Chronicle.

Pakistan haven’t hosted any Test playing nation since the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus at Lahore in 2009 where six police officials and a van driver were killed and several Sri Lankan players were injured.

“Pakistan is going through difficult times through no fault of Pakistan Cricket Board really,” he said. “It’s our role to support Pakistan in its efforts to make sure that international cricket returns to Pakistan, whenever that may be.

“It’s difficult to say exactly when and I think that’s about as much as far as we can go at this stage,” Richardson added.

The former wicket-keeper also added that India-Pakistan cricket is crucial for the development of the game.

“The English and Australians get very proud of their Ashes, but ties between Pakistan and India are critically important for world cricket,” he said,” the South African concluded.

First Published on January 12, 2013 10:42 PM ISTLast updated on January 12, 2013 10:42 PM IST